Multiplex printing-telegraph.



No. 689,753. Patented Dec. 24, [90L H. A. ROWLAND.

MULTIPLEX PRINTING TELEGRAPH. (Application filed July 26, 1897.) (No Model.)

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No. 689,753. Patented Dec. 24, 190i.

4 H. A. ROWLAND.

MULTIPLEX PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(Applicatinn med July 26, 1897.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. 24, 1901.

A; ROWLAND. IULTIP LEX PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(Application 111 4 July 26, 15.97.

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(,No Model J THE NORRIS vrrzns 00.. morq-Lr'mpi; msmnnrou. n c.

No. 689753. v Patented m. 24, 190i.

. H. A. ROWLAND.

MULTIPLE X PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(Applicstiou filed July 26, 1897.)

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No'689,753. 1 Patented Dec. 24, mm. H. A. ROWLAND.

MULTIPLEX PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(Application filed July 26, 1897.)

(no Iodl.)

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No; 689,753.. Patented Dec. 24, MIL

a, A. ROWLAND. MULTIPLEX PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

(Application filed July 26. x007.

(No Model.)

I 8 Sheets- Sheet 6.

No. 689,753. Patented Dec. 24, 190i.

' H. A. ROWLAND.

MULTIPLEX PBIN TI NG TELEGRAPH.

(Application filed July 26. 1897.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7.

Patented Doc. 24, I901.

H A ROWLAND 'MULTIPLEX PRINTINBTELEGRAPH.

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' rent.

step synchronous telegraphs.

UNITED. STATES: j PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. .ROWLAND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, -ASSIGNOR TO THE ROWLAND TELEGRAPHIOOOMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,753, dated December 24, 1901.

Application filed July 26, 1897- Serial No. 646,017. (No model.) I

To 00% whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. ROWLAND, a citizen of ,the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiplex Printing-Telegraphs, (Case 13;) andIdo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

My invention relates to improvements in multiplex printing-telegraphs, and more especially to those of the synchronous type or those in which the local transmitting and receiving instruments are controlled by synchronously-operating mechanism.

This invention further consists in adapting a system of the above character to use with an alternating or other periodically-varying electric line-current and employing this current both for transmitting signals and producing synchronous motion. The advantages to be derived from such an adaptation of the alternating current are many. An alternating current may be sent over a line to a greater distance without any'change of form of its waves or impulses than any other our- Hence it enables me to transmit mes sages to much greater distances without relaying or repeating them than has beenhitherto practicable. Moreover, in such a case there would be practically no diminution of speed with increase of distance, and, furthermore, such a current is admirably adapted to my code of signals and method of synchronizing.-

This invention, moreover, relates to a synchronous telegraph system in which synchronous motion'iis produced by and maintained between continuously moving or rotating parts as contradistinguished from the intermittent motion of the socalled step-by- According to the present invention the inertia of the moving parts is utilized in steadying their motion and in maintaining synchronism, whereas in the case of the step-by-step devices the inertia is entirely gotten rid of, so that if for any reason 'the current which operates the step-by-ste.p1 devices should be interrupted the motion of these devices will be arrested accordingly. For these reasons, as well as others, there is a fundamental dilference between the two systems.

The-present invention constitutes an improvement upon the system of telegraphy shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 622,636, granted to me on April 4, 1899, andto this end comprises the novel features hereinafter described, and pointed out in the'claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of transmitting a message according to this invention. Fig. 2 represents a form of transmitter for modifying the line-current by impressing an extra current upon the modified line-current. Fig. 3 represents a tape transmitter'embodied in the present invention and adapted to operate with this system. Fig. 4 represents a somewhat-different form of tape transmitter also embodied in the present invention and adapted to operate with this system. Fig. 5 is adiagram illustrating a principle of receiving messages according to thisinvention. Fig.6representsaformoflinerelay and connections which may be substituted for the line-relay and connections shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a sine or approximately sine curve of an alternating current. Fig. Sis a diagram showing the electrical connections between the several parts of the circuit combining or combination device. Fig.

'9 is a diagram furtherillustrating the combination device and its related parts. Fig. 10 is a plan view representing the working apparatus,includingtheprinter,motor-dynan1o, motor-regulating device, synchronizer, sending and receiving sunflower and trailer, device for setting the said sunflower, and the receiving line-relay. Fig. 11 showsa means for regulating the speed of one shaft or its driving-motor by means of a contact operated by a shaft having a steady motion. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing circuits. Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a further application of the principle shown in Fig. 12, showing the electrical connections between the several electromagnetic parts ofthe printer herein described. Fig. 14 represents in side elevation the printer and a part of the circuitcombining device. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of the motor-regulatingcontactmaker. Fig. 16 represents in side elevation a detail view of the type-wheel. Fig. 17 represents a section taken along the line 18 18 of Fig. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 18 represents in side elevation a detail view of one of the brush-holders of the synchronizer or motor-dynamo. Fig. 19 represents in side elevation the armature of the synchronizer, showing the arrangement of the synchronizing-current coils. Fig. 20 represents a sectional View of the device for setting the sending and receiving brushes or trailers, taken along the line 21 21 of Fig. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 21 represents a plan view, partly in seclion, of the line polarized receiving-relay. Fig. 21 represents the line receiving-relay, partly in section and side elevation, showing the manner of pivoting the armature. Fig. 22 is a diagram showing the synchronizer connected directly in the main line. Fig. 23 is a diagram showing the synchronizer connected to an independent main-line relay, and Fig. 24 is a diagram showing the synchronizer and current-distributer connected to the receiving line-relay abreast or in multiple.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The transmitting apparatus.-Referring first to Fig. 1, which is a diagram illustrating the principle of sending a message according to the present invention, A represents an alternating-electrie-current generator of any approved form deliveringits current to a single main line L.

It will be assumed for the purpose of the following description that the current of the generator A is produced by an electromotive iorce of sine orapproximately sine wave form, though it is not to be understood that this invention is limited to any special form of alternating or pulsating currentas, for example, such a current as that produced by the Wheatstone transmitter or, in fact, by a vibrating current-changer of any kind used for changing a direct into an alternating or pulsating current may be used. Moreover, the line-current in any case may be derived directly from the generator or from some secondary source, such as a transformer.

Referring again to Fig. 1, R represents the transmitting line-relay or what will hereinafter be designated the transmitter. This transmitter is preferably a neutral relay having the main-line circuit. connected to its contact r and tongue 0'. D represents a transmitting current distributeror sunflower having its segment-circuits connected to the magnet-coil of the transmitter and supplied with current from a local source, such as the battery X. The principal transmitting-segments of this suntlowercomprise three groups of nine segments in each group. In the diagram Fig. 1 only one of these groups is shown connected to the transmitter,as the multiplicity of connections would tend to confuse the drawings. Ilocate in each group of segmentcircuits a suitable apparatus for making and breaking or otherwise altering them in the proper combinations to effect the transmission of the messages. This apparatus may be any suitable form of keyboardsuch, for example, as shown in my Patent No. 622,636, above referred to, or improvements thereonor it may be aperforated tape, or indeed any suitable means for altering the electric condition of the segment-circuits for the actuation of the transmitter. In the drawings I simply represent a series of contacts or keys 1 to 9.

0 represents a trailer moving in synchronism with the generator A. This trailer may be driven in any suitable way and is herein shown as mounted upon a toothed disk 0, which meshes with a pinion b carried by the shaft 1) of a snychronizer B, which is driven in synchronism with the generator A, as hereinafter described. If, however, the generator and trailer 0 are at the same station, the trailer may be driven directly by the generator. The trailer is connected to the source of local current X through the disk 0', shaft K, and contact-brush b.

The contact breadth of each of the transmitting sunflower-segments is such that the time consumed by the trailerin passing over one segment is equal to the time consumed in aline-currentiinpulse or semicycle in passing from one zero-point to the next-that is to say, for each segment that passes beneath the trailer C a corresponding semicycle of the line-current passes the contact of the transmitter R". Therefore for every group of nine segments that the trailer passes over there will at the same time be a group of nine semicycles of the line-current that will pass the transmitter-contact. Then by causing the transmitter to break the line through its contact for the length of time that a segment is in contact with the trailer one complete semicycle of the line-current may be cut out or suppressed for each break. This is accomplished by operating the contacts 1 to 9. If, for example, contacts 1 and 3 are closed, segments 1 and 3 will cause the transmitter to cutout the first and third semicycles of a corresponding group of line .semicycles by energizing the transmitter for thelength of time that the trailer is in contact with those segments. Likewise the operation of any of the other contacts will cause the transmitter to similarlymodifythe corresponding line impulses. This arrangement is therefore well adapted to my general method of transmission, which, as described in the Patent No. 622,636, above referred to, consists, briefly, in suppressing or otherwise modifying a preselected number of the semicyeles or impulses of the line-current for each character or signal and transmitting these signals to a distant point, where they are recorded. The code herein employed consists in suppressing two semicycles out of a group of nine for each signal, as it may readily be assumed that at the time that a group of nine segments of the sunflower are being swept over by the trailer a corresponding group of nine line semicycles are passing the transmitter-contact. I do not, however, confine myself to these'exact numbers. In operating these transmitting-sunflowers it is quite important that they should be so adj usted that they will cause the transmitter to break the line-circuit at the nonsparking point or as near it as possible, which has been found to be at or near the point of zero-current. This is readily accomplished by adjusting the sunflower around its axis until no sparking is observed at the contacts of the transmitter when it breaks the line-circuit. When the proper adj ustmentis made, the trailer will begin to pass onto one of the sunflower-segments at the instant that a semicycle of the line-current begins to flow past the transmitter-contact. While it is important thus to begin to break the line-circuit at the point of zero-current or the non-sparking point, it is not, however, essential to establish the circuit again at the zero-point of the current with the receiving apparatus herein described, though this may be done, if desired. The reason for this is that with the principal form of receiving apparatus herein shown the semicycle next succeeding the suppressed one is not used asa modified semicycle in the combination of semicycles composing a signal. For example, suppose the first and third semicycles, Fig. 7, were suppressed and the line-circuit reestablished. at a point somewhere in the fourth semicycle. A polar line receiving-relay would not be affected by the incomplete fourth semicycle, for this semicycle is of the same sign (negative) as the last semicyclewhi'ch had acted to throw the relay-tongue-that is, the second semicycle. This will be more apparent after the description of the receiving apparatus. Nor do I confine myself to the suppression of individual semicycles, for instead of causing the transmitter to suppress one semicycle at each time that it breaks the line-circuit it may be made tosuppress two, three, or more semicycles, and, furthermore, while it will be assumed for the purpose of this description that the semicycles are modified by suppressing or cutting them out I have herein shown means for otherwise modifying the current. Thus by connecting the resistance r to the contact and tongue of the transmitter the semicycles which would otherwise be cut out upon the breaking of the contact will be reduced in intensity and may be made to accomplish the same result-as suppressing them entirely.

. A third way of modifying the line-current is shown in Fig. 2, where means is employed for superimposing an 'extra current upon the suppressed impulse.

In Fig. 2, R represents the electromagne are sending messages at the same time.

of a relay, and r its armature, having a contact-spring r and contact screws r and T the former being insulated from the armature and the latter held rigid. Normally the linecurrent wouldpass through contact 0 into the spring 9" and conductor r but if the mag net R attracts the armature rfiwhich is pivoted at 'r ,the end of the spring?" will be thrust against the contact r which will break the connection at r and introduce the current from the battery X, which battery may obviously be replaced by any other desired source of current. This arrangement may be substituted for the transmitter of Fig. 1.

Referring again to Fig. it will be seen that the operator using the contacts 1' to 9' will have the exclusive use of the line-transmitter, and hence the main line, just as long as the sunflower-segments to which his contacts are connected are being swept over by the trailer, and likewise with the operators using the other groups of segments,so that the operators in no way interfere with each other, though all The sunflower may thus be divided into any number of groups of segments,depending upon the number of separate persons using the line. One of the segments of the transmittingsunflower not included in the three groups is permanentlyconnected, as by wire 10, to the transmitter, so that each time the trailer C comes in contact with the segment so connected the transmitter will modify a line-current impulse. The object of this is to effect the proper setting of the receiving-sunflower, as hereinafter fully described.

The synchronizer B is substantially the same in principle as the synchronous device described and claimed in my aforesaid patent, being regulated directly by the line-current passing through certain of its coils, as shown in Fig. 1, or indirectly by the said current, as hereinafter shown and described, and in either case driven by an independent source of power. The line L represents the metallic leg of the circuit connecting the station Fig. 1 with the receiving-station, Fig. 5.

In Fig. 3 is shown an arrangement of the transmitting apparatus in which the messages are sent by means of a perforated tape. In this case G represents the transmitting-tape, provided with a series of perforations g, representing the message to be transmitted.

IIO

The tape is driven at a uniform speed over a metal contact-roller H by means of the synchronizer or by any other suitable means in synchronism with the alternator. This may 'bedone in oneway bycausing the teeth-of a small'wheel c to engage a row of perforations g of the tape and driving this wheel through the gearc and pinion b of the synchronizer.

The local-battery circuit 12 is connected at &

means of the brush h". Thus it will be seen that the transmitter R will be energized at each time that a perforation g passes beneath the brush it and will cause the transmitter to modify an amount of line-current depending upon the length of the perforation. Bymaking the perforations each equal to the length ofa semicycle as each perforation passes the brush h the transmitter will suppress a semicycle. Then by arranging these perforations according to a codesuch, for example, as that herein described-such a form of transmitter becomes readily adapted to my system of receiving.

In punching the tape G for multiplex transmission the perforations representing several messages would naturally alternate, just as in the case of the sunflower, where the signal of the first operation is transmitted by connecting in the local circuit a certain combination of segments of the first group, the signals of the second operation by connecting in the local circnita certain combination of segments of the second group, and so on.

In Fig. 4 is shown a form of transmitting apparatus in which the line-transmitter and sunflower are used,butin which the sun flowersegment circuits are made and broken by means of a transmitting-tape somewhat different from that shown in Fig. 3. In this case G represents such a tape passing over a metal contact-roller II and driven by a wheel or disk c mounted upon the shaft K and having a lug upon it which engages the teeth of the wheel 0 once in each revolution of the sunflower-trailer. The teeth of the wheel 0 engage the perforations g of the tape, and thus impart motion thereto. The synchronizer B drives the trailer 0 by means of the gear 0', mounted upon the shaft K. Upon the tape G, above the contact-piece 11, rest a series of brushes h to 72/ and each of these brushes is connected to a segment of the sunflower of the group of segments to be operated by this particular tape. The electric circuit passes through the coil of the transmitter R to the sunflower and contactbrushes h to 71 through the brushes b and h By completing the local circuit through combinations of the brushes h to h the same effect is produced upon the transmitter R as by operating the contacts of Fig. 1. This is accomplished in the present case as follows: The tape G is perforated at intervals upon transverse lines, as o 0, o o, and 0 0 and these perforations are arranged upon each line in such aposition that two brushes h to It will complete the local circuit through the perfora-' current. A differently-disposed pair of perforations upon the line 0 0 will cause the transmitter to suppress another pair of the line impulses, and so on. The perforations in each transverse line may thus be made to represent a character, and obviously the arrangement is not confined to two perforations in each line. If a polarized receiving-relay is used in connection with this form of transmitter, the number of brushes or segmentcircuits would be increased to nine, as in the case of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The reason for this will hereinafter more fully appear. Furthermore, in multiplex transmission, or, in other words, if the receiving-sunflower operating in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 is divided into groups of segmentsihree, for example-such as shown in Fig. 5, and it is desired to receive messages on each group, obviously the trailer of the transmitting device, Fig. 4, would be driven three times as fast as the receivingtrailer, since the transmitting apparatus sends only one signal or combination of signals for one character upon each revolution, whereas the receiving apparatus can receive three upon each revolution of its trailer.

The receiving apparatus.Passing next to the receiving apparatus, reference will be had particularly to Fig. 5, where R represents the receiving line-relay. This is a polar relay having its coils traversed by the main-line current and having one contact 0' connected to the outer plus pole of a split battery X and its other contact r connected to the outer negative pole of the same battery.

The receiving apparatus other than the line-relay is worked on a local relayed circuit, so that the said main line will not be afiected by any accident that might occur to the local apparatus. This relayed circuit includes a conductor connected to the line-relay tongue, a synchronizer B, a trailer G and its sunflower D the various segment-circuits of the said sunflower, polar selecting-relays R to R, located in said segment-circuits, and a common wire 1-4, which connects the said relay-circuits with the battery. The trailer 0 is mounted on the disk or gear wheel 0 and is driven in synchronism with the transmittingtrailer by the synchronizer B, as shown and as described relative to the transmittingtrailer. The sunflower D is composed of groups of segments corresponding to those of the transmitting-sunflower, except that the segments of the latter are broader than those of the former. Also the insulation between the segments of the receiving-sunflower is made broader than that between those of the transmitting-sunflower. In each of the local receiving-sunflower segment-circuits is a polar selecting-relay forming the group R to R -that is, the coils of these relays are traversed by the'segment-circuits. It will thus be seen that when the line-current is flowing interruptedly the line-relay tongue T will be kept in a state of vibration between its contacts. Then as the receiving-trailer passes from one segment tothe next in unison with dicated by the reference-letters with evennumbered exponents-such as R R R and R will normally receive, for example, plus impulses, while the relays R R R R and R will normally receive negative impulses. These relays are so Wound, however, that the impulses distributed in this manner send their tongues againsttheir backstops. These are the conditions that exist when no signal is being received. v

For each signal that is received the selecting-relays corresponding to the signals will receive impulses of opposite polarity to the normal impulse and will send their tongues against their forward contacts, the objectof which is to complete certain printer-circuits hereinafter described. This is accomplished in the following way: It will be assumed that the signal was sent from the transmitter by operating contacts 1 and 3''that is, the first and third semicycles of a group corresponding to the nine segments of the sunflowers supposed to be in use. At the time that the first semicycle is suppressed the receivingtrailer 0 will be in contact with the segment connected to wire 1*, and in this case a nggative impulse would normally be transmitted down the wire Z to the'relay' R; but as a semicycle of the line-current has been suppressed the tongue of the line-relay B will not make contact with that pole of the battery which sends a negative impulse to the relay R, but will remain againstthe contact r where the preceding semicycle had attracted it. The obvious effect of this will be to cause a positive impulse to traverse the relay R and being an impulse opposite to the normal one will send the tongue of that relay against its forward contact. Likewise the suppression of the third semicycle, as above as su med, will cause the relay R to send its tongue against its forward contact. When the receiving-trailer again comes around to the sunflower-segments connected to the re lays R and R impulses will be sent through them from the battery X in the normal direction, which will cause their tongues to return to the back-stops, thereby avoiding the use of any extra circuits or apparatus for accomplishing this result. Operating as above described two diiferent selecting-relays act to close their forward contacts, and thereby partly close two printer-circuits tor each signal received. A group of selecting-relays similarv to the group R to R would be connected to each group of the receiving-sunflower segments, and as these groups of segments of the transmittingand receiving sunflowers correspond and the trailersmove in synchronism messages sent upon group No.1 of the transmitter-segments will be received upon group No. l of the receiving-sunflower segments only, and so with the second and third groups. 'lhereforethere will be no interference on the line, though several of the operators are sending and receiving messages at the same time.

Before passing to the description of the operation of printing themessages reference will be had to the means for indicating the proper adjustment of the sunflowers and also to the way in which the synchronizer is operated which regulates the speed of the trailers.

, Adjusting the sunflowers and trailers. -The object of this arrangement is to indicate when the receiving trailer or sunflower is so adjusted with relation to the trailer and sunflower at-the station from which the signals are sent that the trailers will rest simultae neously' upon corresponding segments. 7 This is accomplished in the following way: At the sending end (see Fig. 1) I permanentlyconnect one or moreof the odd segments of the sunflower to the transmitter-coil circuit, as by wire 10', so that once in each revolution of the trailer 0 one or more of the line impulses will be modified, whether the keyboard or other local transmitting apparatus is operated or not. At the receiving-station one or more odd segments of the sunflower corresponding to those at the transmitting-station are connected, as by wire 15, to the coils of a relay R or other magnetic signaling device, which is again connected-to the common battery-wire It. If the receiving-sunflower is properly set so that its trailer arrives upon a predetermined segment at the same time that the transmitting-trailer arrives upon a corresponding segment, then at each time that the transmitter modifies a line impulse corresponding to these predetermined segments of the transmitting-sunflower the relay R will receive a local current impulse of a given polarity, and if this continues its tongue will remain continually against one of its contacts; but now if this adjustment of the sunflowers is altered the relay R will not receive an impulse of the same sign upon every revolution of the trailer. Hence its tongue will be sent over against its other contact. This action of the relay may be made to indicate the proper adjustment of the sunflowerin a number of ways-as, for example, by audible signals produced by the relay in acting, as described. The same result may be effected by adjusting the trailers instead of the sunflowers, and l have provided means,

hereinafter shown, for accomplishing this.

The syuchromzer-ozrcu2t.From Fig. 5 it will be seen that the synchronizer operates upon a local relayed circuit and is shown in that figure as connected in series with the receiving-sunflower. It is, however, not best ing-sunfiower and other receiving apparatus is operated npon a relayed circuit. The connections for such an arrangement are shown in Fig. 22. Also the local synchronizing-current may be relayed from the main-line current by a separate relay R located in the main-line circuit and making the local synchronizing-current independent of the local signaling-current, as shown in Fig. 23. If in this case the line impulses should be modified by simply reducing them in intensity, this second line-relay R may be more sensitive than the line signaling-relay R so that it will respond to every impulse and work constantly, thereby producing a better synchronizing-current than relay R Neutral Zinc receiving-relay and circuits.- With slight changes in the receiving apparatus the neutral line receiving-relay R and its connections, as shown in Fig. 6, may be substituted for the polar relay R of Fig. 5. In this case the armature of the relay R, vibrated by the line-current, is sent-against the contact r for each unmodified impulse of the line-currentandwillnormally-thatis,as long as no signal is receivedtransmit through the conducting-segments of the sunflower device positive currents only. I assume in the description that these currents are positive, though they may be either positive or negative. The tongue of the relayRis caused to strike the contact 1' under the influence of a plus line impulse at each time thata conducting sunflower-segment comes beneath the brush and will strike the same contactthat is, contact r-under the influence of negative line-waves at such times as the insulation between the sunflower-segments comes beneath the brush or trailer, thus normally transmitting to each receiving-relay a positive current. The local selecting-relays are therefore in this case so wound that plus currents cause them to open their local circuits, while negative currents cause them to close them. Now if an impulse of the line-current arriving at the relay R is modified, as herein described, the elfect will be to cause its armature to remain against the contact 7' for the length of time that the modified current is passing the relay-coi ls, and while thus against the contact r a negative current will be sent through one of the local receiving-relays, the effect of which will be to cause the particular local relay which receives the current to close its local circuit. The tongues of the local receiving-relays are brought back in a reverse direction when the line-relay tongue turns to the contact 1*. In the event that the relay R is employed one of the relays of the group R to R may be dispensed with, using eight instead of nine selecting-relays. The reason for this is the relay R being a neutral relay its tongue will be drawn back by the spring r and will act for each line impulse and therefore operate each selecting-relay successively; but where the line-relay is a polarized relay only alternate selecting-relays with respect to the order in which they receive their current can be operated together, as the tongue of the polarized line-relay will remain against the contact to which it is attracted until an impulse of opposite polarity to that which last actuated it arrives. Hence the use of a greater number of selecting-relays when the line receiving-relay is polarized.

The selecting-relays and system of combination.The function of these selecting-relays is to close or partly close (in the case of the apparatus herein described) nine local branch printer-circuits in combinations corresponding to the combinations of line impulses suppressed or otherwise modifiedthat is to say, for each combination of modified line impulses representing a character a corresponding combination of selecting-relays will be acted upon and close their contacts through two local printer-circuits, and thereby cause the printer to print the corresponding character. The contacts thus closed by the selecting-relays, though, only partly close the local circuits to the printer. The completion of these circuits in combinations to form a part of the main printer-circuit is effected by means of a novel form of circuit combining and distributing device based upon the following system of combinations, which is but a special case out of many which may be devised from my general system of combining circuits.

In explaining the present system of combinations it will be assumed that we have nine circuits, represented by a b c d e f g h 'i, respectively, being the nine circuits to be closed in combinations through the selecting-relay contacts. In this series circuit a may be combined with b c defg h t, b with c dcfght', cwith defy hi, dwith efght, ewithfg h 't', f with g h i, g with h t, and h with 7 thus obtaining thirty-six separate combinations. Then by not counting contiguous combinationsthat is, such combinations as ab be ad dc effg gh hi-there will be left from nine circuits twenty-eight combinations, as follows: (a) cdefght', (b) defgh'i, (c) efghi, (d)fg h 2', (e) g h t1, (f) h i, and (g) 2'. Contiguous combinations are not counted, for the reason that contiguous selecting-relays do not act in combinations, as hereinbefore explained. Thus it will be seen that these combinations may be arranged in seven groups. In the first a combines with seven others, in the second b combines with six others, and so on through the series. The practical application of this grouping will be readily seen in the following description of the circuit-combining device. This device will first be described with reference to Fig. 8, where D represents a ring made up of twenty-eight insulated metallic segments 0 d e f g h 2", d e f g M f, &c., with all of the segments represented by like letters electrically connected together and each of these groups connected to the wires a to W. D represents a ring made up of seven insulated segments a 19 0 01 e f 9 the breadth or contact-surface of the segment (2 corresponding to that of seven of the segments of the ring D the breadth of the segment I) corresponding to that of six of the segments of the ring D, and so on to the segment which corresponds in size to any ofthose of the ring D. The wires c d e f g are connected to the segments of thering D and all of the wires a to i are connected, respectively, to the contact-disks d to (1 and these contactdisks are electrically connected 'to the forward contacts (1 to 1 of the selecting-relays.

C and C represent brushes resting upon the rings D and \D and occupying corresponding angular positions relative to their respective rings. These brushes are connected in circuit with a local battery or other source of local current X? and with a magnet R which actuates the printer.

The rings Diand D are preferably mounted upon the same shaft and are driven at a constant speed in synchronism with the alternator and sunflower devices by the driving mechanism hereinafterdescribed. Obviously the same result may be accomplished if the brushes C and C are made to rotate and the rings D and D are held stationary, the object being simply to produce relative motion between the brushes and rings.

The operation of the combination dcm'ce.

The operation of this circuit-combining device is as follows: Assuming that a signal has been sent and that the relays R and R are the ones which are aifected by the signal, as described in reference to Fig. 5, these relays will close the contacts a and 0 Tracing the circuit from the battery X at theinstant that the brushes 0 and G occupy the positions relative to thesegments under them such as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that this circuit is complete, passing through magnet R brush C segment a, disk d contact a then through contact 0 into disk d, and back to battery through line c' segment e and brush C This will cause the printer actuated by the relay R to print the character representing the signal received; but if any of the contacts at a I) to 01 are closed singly the relay R will not be affected, for the circuit through it will not be completed. Upon the reception of another signal we will suppose the relays R to R to close the contacts b and d A current will then flow through the coils of the magnet R as will be obvious, when the segments in the rings D and D which correspond to the closed circuits 17 (1 come in contact with the brushes 0 and C and in like manner two other circuits of the group 0. to 2 may be closed for another signal. W'ith the nine circuits thus combined the printer may be made to print all of the letters of the English alphabet and such other symbols as may be selected.

Printing a chara ctcix-The principal steps in the operation of printing a character may be better described in connection with Fig. 9, where the printer type-wheel W is shown mounted on a shaft P, with the circuit-combining device, and where S represents the printer hammer or platen-actuated by a magnet M which is magnetized bya local circuit controlled by the relay R The type-wheel is so set that any character upon its periphery corresponds to a prearranged combination of the segments of the rings D and D so that the instant the selecting-relays close the circuits'through the combination of segments representing the signal received the character to be printed for that combination will be in front of the printer hammer or platen. It will, however, be seen that the magnet which actuates this platen is not excited directly from the relay-circuit, but by a'separate circuit controlled by a relay R The detail operation of the printer will be described later, when the object of employing the relay R will be fully stated.

Having thus described the general principle of my invention, some of the apparatus by which the system is put into operation will next be described.

Reference will be had first to Fig. 10, which is a plan View showing the synchronizer, auxiliary motor, means'for regulating the speed of the motor, the printer, combination device, transmitting and receiving sunflower devices and device for setting them, and the line-relay, all mounted on one base, which may be extended to accommodate more printers, when necessary.

The sync7zromzer.This device comprises, among other parts, a disk armature B, mounted to rotate between the poles of two permanent magnets B The armature B consists of a non-magnetic disk 1)", preferably metallic, carrying upon one of its faces threeor more coils B adapted to carry a continuous current and connected with thecommu'tator b. Upon the other face of the disk b (see Fig. 19) are mounted two coils 13 for the synchronizing-current and are connected to the collector-rings 1)". Obviously these two coils maybe replaced by four, six, or a greater number of coils, if desired. The armaturedisk, collector-rings, and commutator are all mounted on the shaft 12 which is journaled in the frame B B B represent the brush-holders, which are most clearly shown in the detail view, Fig. 18. They consist of two plates of insulating material 5 pivotally mounted, as at 19 on each side of a central plate 19 which is bent, as at I), and there secured to a rod 79 which rod is adapted to be held in a central. opening in the upright Z1 and secured by the set-screw b. The brushes b are secured to each of the plates b where they may be connected to the terminal wires, as at 19 The pressure of the brushes against the commutator or collector-rings is secured by means of the weights 1)", connected by the arms Z1 too to the upper portion of the plates b The coils carrying the continuous current, revolving between the magnet-poles and supplied with the proper commutator h, constitutes a continuous or direct current motor from which the necessary power to drive the synchronizing-coils B is derived. I do not, however, wish to limit the driving power to a direct-current electric motor, as this power may be a small water-motor, clockwork, a falling weight, or, in fact, any suitable source of power may be employed. The armature of the synchronizerthat is, the synchronizing-coilswill not do work or absorb work as long as the motor keeps them in step with the current; but when the motor tends to get out of step the said synchronizer-coils or the current in them will do or absorb work, as the case may be, and thus keep the motor in step or in synchronism.

On one end of the armature-shaft b of the synchronizer is mounted a pinion U which meshes with a large gear 0', mounted fast on a shaft F, which latter is journaled in the bearingsf. This shaft F only extends from the gear 0 to the point f, is made hollow, and receives the shaft K, which revolves loosely within it. Motion is transmitted from the shaft F to the shaft K by means of the beveled gears F, F and K. The gear F, being mounted [on the shaft F, meshes with the intermediate gear F and that in turn meshes with the gear K, mounted fast on the shaft K. The gearF is mounted in thelugs or bearingsfflwhich are mounted on a disk Fon each side of a slot f through which the gear F passes. (Shown most clearlyin the detail view, Fig. 20.) This disk F is provided with a plurality of notches or slots f around its periphery, which are adapted to engage a spring set-piece f by means of which the disk maybe set in any desired position around the shaft K, the disk F being mounted on the loose collarf The object of this method of gearing will be presently described.

Other details of the working apparatus. The transmitting and receiving sunflower trailers consist of the metal strips k and 7c, respectively, carrying at their free ends the metal rollers and 70 These strips are mounted upon a right-angled extension K of an arm K and insulated therefrom, as at k", and the arm K is adjustably mounted on the shaft K. The rollers k and 70 rest, respectively, upon the sunflowers D and D which latter are mounted fast upon a hollow shaft D which receives the end of the shaft K. The shaft D is secured at its other end in the upright u.

The sunflowers D and D may be adjusted around the shaft K as an axis by means of the toothed disk d and when so adjusted may be held in the desired position by the set-piece 61. J represents a cable made up of the wires which connect the sunflower-segments, and 1) represents the terminal connections from which the current passes into the strips 70 70 through the rings 0 O.

The angular position of the trailers may be adjusted or varied without in any way affecting the rotation of the shaft F. This is done by means of the arrangement of the gears K, F", and F, and the operation is as follows: The set-springf is withdrawn from engagement with the teeth of the disk F which disk is then advanced or turned back, as the case may require, carrying with it the gears F and K, until the rollers 70 and 70 rest upon the proper segments. This done, the set-springf may be allowed to again engage the disk F which will retain the said disk in position. The slots f around the periphery of the disk F are equidistant and correspond to every alternate segment of one of the sunflowersthat is, there are half as many slots as segments in one of the sunflowers.

The receiving Zt'ne-reZay.In Figs. 10 and 21 is shown a special form of line receivingrelay, having a circular permanent magnet 1", between the poles of which is mounted an oscillating armature 1", being pivoted, as at r, and consisting of core 7*, (see Fig. 21,) of such form as to be in unstable equilibrium when'in the center of its motion-that is to say, the armature is so mounted that the pivoted points of its supporting pins or lugs will be out of vertical alinement with each other. (See Fig. 21.) The armature proper consists of an I-shaped piece of iron 7', upon which'is wound a coil of wire 7*, and has a tongue 7', which is adapted to vibrate between the contact-screws r and W". The proximity of the magnet-poles to the armature may be varied at will, as the magnet may be made in two parts pivotally connected, as at r.

The printer-driving motor and speed-regu- Zatt'ng dert'ce.E represents the direct-current motor for driving the printers and combination devices. This motor is provided with field-magnets E, and a disk armature E similar to the armature B of the synchronizer, except that it is provided with the direct-current coils e only. The motor E is provided with the commutator e and brushholder B similar to those of the synchronizer. The shaft e carries a pinion e, which gears with the toothed disk C mounted on the shaft P.

For the purpose of governing the speed of the motor E the shaft P carries at one end a disk N, and near this a second'disk N, insulated from the first disk, as atn, and secured on the shaft P by the collar or and set-screws n. The disk N is divided, as shown most clearly in the detail view Fig. 15, into two or more parts N" and N and each half of the disk is insulated from the other, as at n". The part N is electrically connected to the disk N, hereinafter more fully described. The contactroller f carried by the strip F which is -mounted on the arm F and rotated by the shaft K, makes contact with the half or the disk N or N or rests upon the insulation dividing them, aecordin gas the speed between the said roller and disk N varies, as will be explained more fully in connection with a subsequent figure. The current is conveyed to or from the disk N through the brush a In order to fully describe the operation of this governing apparatus, reference will be had to Fig. 11, which shows the arrangement of the motor-circuits in addition to the other governing apparatus. It being assumed that the motor E gets its power from the battery X, which obviously may be any other suitable source, and that the arm F rotates in the direction of the arrow and that the disk N,dri ven by the motor E, rotates in the same direction, the operation is as follows: The resistances of the rheostats r and r are so adjusted that when the course of the current is from the battery X through resistance r motor-resistance T and back to battery X again the motorE will be driven at about the same speed as the synchronizer B; but when the circuit is completed through the contact-maker f and disk N the current will be short-circuited around the resistance r and will cause the motor to accelerate its speed. Therefore it will be seen that if the'disk N and arm F are rotating in the same direction and at the same speed the contact-maker f will rest which it will continue to do until the disk catches up and the contact-maker is'again brought back to the insulation n", which breaks the short circuit around the resistance. The shafts F and P will thus be caused to maintain the same speed.

The combination deoice.The theory and operation of this combination device having been described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, a practical working form of the same is shown in Figs. 10 and 14, where the segmental rings D and D are shown mounted upon an insulating-collar D which is in turn mounted on the shaft P. d to d represent the rotating contact-rings in contact with as many brushes 01 to (Z which latter are mounted on the insulated support d These brushes instead of being of the form shown may be provided with small rollers, such as those that make contact 0 either one wayv or the other the position of particular instant to a signal sent over the line, to operate magnetic devices in various ways and of various kinds; but forthe purpose of making these signals manifest in an intelligible form I preferably cause them to be represented by printed characters, and to this end have devised the automatic printer, (shown most clearly in Figs. 10 and 14,) the electrical connection between the several electromagnetic parts being shown in the diagram Fig. 13.

W represents the type-wheel, mounted on the shaft P, and therefore rotating in synchronism with the combination device and with the line-current. This type-Wheel (most clearly shown in the detail views Figs. 16 and 17) consists of a'wheel W, having the type to arranged around its periphery and is also provided with a long collar to, which extends from one side of the wheel only. This collar and wheel are mountedloosely on the shaft P, and on the opposite side of the type wheel from the collar is a disk 10 held fast on the shaft by the set-screw w This disk is provided with a plurality of small holes to", into any ofwhich is inserted a small pin to, against which a pin w on the type-Wheel rests, the type-wheel being driven against the pin 10 by means of a coil-spring 10 one end of the spring being secured to the hub of the type-wheel, while the other end is secured to the disk 10 By this arrangement the speed of the shaft is not afiected by the repeated-blows given to the type-wheel by the printing-hammer, owing to the fact that the type-wheel is loose upon the shaft P, and whenever the type-wheel is struck it will give way and the shaft P will continue to revolve, the spring bringing the wheel back to its initial point when the hammer releases it. This arrangement also secures greater clearness in the printing, as the wheel momentarily stops when struck. \Vere the type-wheel rigid on the shaft, it would continue to move when struck, which would cause a blur. The type-wheel is inked by the roller W, mounted on the rod W which latter is secured to the upright u; The characters are printed from this type onto astrip of paper V, which passes between the periphery of the typewheel and a printing-hammer S. This printing-hammer S consists of an arm 8, preferably of magnetic metal and pivoted, as at s in the frame 8, and at the pivoted end is bent at right angles to form the downwardly-extending arm 3. The hammer-head consists of a frame S, secured to the end ofthe arm IOC s and carrying a striker 3 mounted on the stem 3 which is pivoted, as at s, to the frame S.

8 represents a spring secured to the frame S and in engagement with the stem 8 and 8 represents a set-screw for adjusting the position of the striker The spring 8 allows the striker s to give way with the type-wheel, which will also obviate blurring in the printing. The downwardly-extending arm 3 of the printing-hammer forms the armature of the electromagnet M, so that whenever the magnet M is excited the arm .9 will be attracted and will obviously send the striker 3 against the paper. This arm also carries a contact-spring .9 which when the arm 5 is attracted, as stated, will be sent into engagement with the contact-screw 5 When the magnet is deenergized, the hammer rebounds quickly from the type-wheel, being assisted in this operation by the spring 3 The paper V passes between the rollers Z and Z and is advanced the proper distance after the printing of each letter by the spacing mechanism, comprising, among other parts,

.the ratchet z, mounted on the same spindle with the roller Z upon the upright Z This ratchet is rotated the distance of one tooth for each letter by the pawl 2', carried by the arm Z which is pivoted at 2. The pawl z is held in the proper position by the spring 2 The rocking arm Z carries an armature 2 which after each letter has been printed is adapted to be attracted by the electromagnet Z thus causing the pawl z to advance the ratchet-wheel and therefore the paper V. A metal strip ,2, secured to the upper end of the arm Z makes contact with a screw 5 every time the magnet Z attracts the armature a and thus completes a circuit, which instantly causes the magnet Z to release the armature 2 when the contact at e is again broken and the arm Z returns to its normal position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 15.

The circuits through the electromagnets M and Z are opened and closed by the magnetic devices or distributing-relays R and R which are provided with freelymoving vibrating tongues r and r which are adapted to vibrate between the contacts r r and r 0", respectively. The relay R acts to close a circuit which operates the printer for each combination on the combination device, before described.

To more fully describe the action of the printer, reference will be had to the diagram of the printer-circuits, Fig. 13. The Wires 00 are connected with the brushes or contacts C C of the combination device, and with the source of local current, so that whenever a signal is received the magnet R of the relay R becomes excited. This causes the tongue 1" to be attracted by the magnet R the said tongue thus making contact at r and completing the circuit from the battery X through the wires 0: and x and the magnet M. This instantly causes the magnet M to attract its armature s,which in turn causes the printing-hammer S to print a letter on the strip V; but at the instant that the mag net M attracts the armature s the strip 3 makes contact with the point s ,and this completes the circuit from the battery X through the magnets R and R by way of the wires m m 00 00 and which causes the magnet R to attract the tongue 1". This breaks the contact at r and releases the printing-hammer and also causes the magnet R to attract the tongue 1" and make contact at 7' The effect of making the contact at r is to complete the circuit through the magnet Z by way of the wires 50 and acfiwhich magnet then attracts its armature 2 and makes contact between ,2 and a the effect of this being to close the circuit through the magnet R by way of the wires 00 and 00, causing the mag net to attract the tongue 1', breaking the contact at r and therefore breaking the circuit through the magnet Z and thus restoring all of the parts to the initial position. This cycle of operations takes place every time a letter is printed, but the action of all the parts is so rapid that while following each other in perfect order they appear to act simultaneously.

The simple case of operating the printermagnet without the spacing mechanism is shown in Fig. 12. In this instance when a signal is received the magnet R becomes excited by the current from the wires 00 and attracts its tongue 7', which makes contact at r and closes the circuit through the magnet M and causes that magnet to attract its armature s and print a letter. At the same time contact is made between the strip 3 and point .9 which completes the circuit through the magnet R causing that magnet to attract the tongue 1' and breaking the contact at 7*, which causes the current through the magnet M to cease to flow, thus allowing the printing-hammer to return to its normal position.

It will be observed that the character is not necessarily printed as soon as the signal which represents it arrives. Thus a signal representiug the letter A, for example, will cause the relay R to send its tongue against the contact T and when this takesplace the printing-hammer may either operate immediately or it may be held back, but as soon as released will operate nevertheless, as the tongue of the relay is freely moving and will remain against the contact a until the printer-hammer operates and energizes the magnet R which will draw the tongue away from the contact 7". This action renders the operation of the hereindescribed printer essentially dilferent from those printers where the contact-maker taking the place of the tongue 7' is drawn back by a spring immediately after it makes the contact for operating the printer-hammer. In the case of the printers having the spring-controlled oractuated contact-makers it is necessary for the printer-hammer to act instantly that the said contact is made or else it will not print the character. What has been said about the relay R and the printer-hammer applies to the relay R3 and spacing mechanism. The latter may act any time after the contact T has been completed. I

While I have herein shown and described my transmitting apparatus as used in connection with a type-printing receiver, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to such use. Thus, for example, my system of transmission may be readily used with a Morse recorder or Bain chemical receiver, and I propose to so use the system at such times as it becomes desirable to do so. Moreover, there are many obvious modifications which may be made in the herein-described system without departing from the spirit of my invention; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying a signaling and synchronizing electric current, a transmitter for altering the electrical condition of said main-line current, a continuously-moving synchronizer regulated by the said current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by the said synchronizer and in which there is a continuous relative motion between said sunflower and trailer, and a transmitting-tape located in the segment-circuits of said sunflower for operating said transmitter, substantially as described.

2. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying a coil of said transmitter, and a source of local current connected to said segment-circuits, substantially as described.

3. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an electric current, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally completed through one of its contacts, a continuously-rotating synchronizer regulated by the said current, a

sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with said synchronizer,- the seg ments of said sunflower being divided into groups and their circuits passing through thecoil of said transmitter, and a source of local current connected to the said segment-circuits, substantially as described.

4. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an electric current, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally completed through one of its contacts, a continuously-rotating synchronizer regulated by the said'current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with said synchronizer, the segments of said sunflower being divided into groups and their circuits passing through the coil of said transmitter, means for altering the electrical condition of each group of said segment-circuits separately,- and a source of local current connected to the said segmentcircuits, substantially as described.

5. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating signaling and synchronizing current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a continuously-rotating synchronizer regulated by the alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by the said synchronizer and in which there is a continuous relative motion between said sunflower and trailer, and the segment-circuits of said sunflower passing through the coil of said transmitter, substantially as described.

6. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating signaling and synchronizing current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a continuously-moving synchronizer regulated by the said alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with said synchronizer,

the segment-circuits of said sunflower pass- 7. The combination with a conductor carrying an alternating signaling and synchronizing electric current, of a shaft having a continuous steady motion regulated by said alternating current, a sunflower and trailer driven in unison with said shaft, a transmitter operated by the sunflower-circuits with the alternating line-current passing through its contact side, whereby the said transmitter may be made to vary the electrical properties of the line conductor and thus modify the waves of the alternating current, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a main-line con ductor carrying analternating electric current, a sunflower and trailer .in which there is a continuousrelative motion between the sunflower and trailer, a transmitter operated by the sunflower-circuits with the line-current passing normally through its contact side, and properly-ad j usted resistances connected from the tongue of said transmitter to said contact whereby the said transmitter is caused to reduce the intensity of the Wave impulses of said current at such times as it is actuated by said sunflower-circuits, substantially as de-.

scribed.

9. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a continuously-rotating synchronizer regulated by the alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with the said synchronizer, the segment circuits of said sunflower passing through the coil of said transmitter, and a source of local current connected to the segment-circuits, substantially as described.-

10. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a continuously-rotating synchronizer regulated by the alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with the said synchronizer,the segment-circuits of said sunflower passing through the coil of said transmitter, means for altering the electrical condition of said segment-circuits, and a local source of current connected to said segmentcircuits, substantially as described.

11. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a synchronizer having a steady continuous motion regulated by the alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulating by and moving in unison with the said synchronizer, the segments of said sunflower being divided into independent groups, the circuits of said segments passing through the coil of said transmitter, and a source of local current connected to said segment-circuits, substantially as described.

12. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating current of electricity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit normally closed through one of its contacts, a synchronizer having a steady continuous motion regulated by the alternating current, a sunflower and trailer regulated by and moving in unison with the said synchronizer, the segments of said sun flower being divided into groups, the circuits of said segments passing through the coil ofsaid transmitter, means for altering the electrical condition of each group of segment-circuits separately, and a source of local current connected to the said segmentcircuits, substantially as described.

13. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating electric current, of a transmitter with the circuit of the said alternating current passing normally through the contact side thereof, a series of conducting-strips, a contact-maker moving continuously over and in contact with said conductin -strips and having its motion regulated by said alternating current, conducting-wires connected to said strips, means for altering the electrical condition of said conducting wires, and a source of local current with its circuit passing through the coil of said relay and through the said conducting-wires, substantially as described.

14. In a system of telegraphy, the combina tion with a main-line conductor, of an alter= nating current carried by said main-line conductor, a transmitter with the circuit of said alternating current passing normally through the contact side thereof, a series of conducting-strips, a brush adapted to move continuously over and in contact with said conducting-strips, conducting-wires connected to said strips, with the circuit through them normally open, means for closing the circuit through any of said conducting-wires, and a source of local current with its circuit passing through the coil of said transmitter and through the said conducting-wires, substantially as described. I

15. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-line conductor, of-an alternating current carried by said main-line conductor, a transmitter with the circuit of said alternating current passing normally through the contact side thereof, a series of conducting-strips, a brush adapted to move continuously over and in contact with said conducting-strips, conducting-wires connected to said strips, a perforated tape for making or breaking the electric circuit through said wires, and a source of local current with its circuit passing through the coil of said transmitter, substantially as described.

16. In a system of telegraphy, the combination with a main-liue conductor carrying an alternating current varying gradually in intensity, of a transmitter with the main-line circuit passing normally through the contact side thereof, a perforated tape adapted to travel in synchronism with the said alternating current, an actuating-conforming a part of the transmitter, a local source of electric current with its circuit passing through the coil of said transmitter, which circuitis adapted to be made and broken through the said perforated tape, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a main-line conductor carrying an alternating electric current gradually rising and falling in strength, of a transmitter with the circuit of the said main line conductor normally passing through its contact side, a perforated tape adapted to travel in synchronism with said 

